Game device



. April 3, 1928.

E. w. GATES GAME DEVICE Filed July 1, 1927 0' I ----uIIII'IIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII. 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Apr. 3 1928.

UNITED STATES ERNEST W. GATES, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. I

GAME DEVICE.

Application filed my 1,

The object of this invention is to provide a game device adapted ment,and of educational value in that its operation 'simulatesthe action of avolcano in eruption.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the invention.I

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same. Figure 3' is a view similar toFigure 2,

showing means for illuminating the volcano crater when the device isoperated to simulate an eruption.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In the drawings, in a diversified surface including a protu erance 13,simulating a volcanic mountain, and terrain at the base of theprotuberance.

The bed may be molded from any suitable plastic material adaptedtosolidify by drying, or it may be otherwise constructed. An

upstanding curb lsurrounds the bed and projects upwardly from the marginthereof,

said curb being preferably a part of a box which includes a bottom 1 1of the protuberance 13 is provided with an upwardly opening recess 15,surrounded by a wall which simulates a crater.

The device includes a plurality of loose balls 16, adapted to beassembled in the recess 15. 17 designates a ball-supporting plungerwhich normally rests on the bottom of the recess and is formed tosupport the balls, as indicated by full lines in Figure 2. The plungeris movable vertically in the recess to cause the balls to roll outwardlyover the recess wall, so that they are free to roll downwardly on theprotuberance 13. 'The bed is provided with a plurality of ball-receiving pockets 18, each designated by a value-indicatingnumber 19 onthe bed. Some of the pockets may be formed in the protuberance, andothers in the portionof the bed at the base of the'protuberance. Ballsrolling down the protuberance may lodge in the pockets, some of whichare less freelyac- V cessible than others, the more inaccessible pocketshaving higher values.

The plunger 17 is provided with a stem 21, extending downward through aguiding orifice 22, in the bed, the stem having a push member at itslower end exposed in an to afford -entertain-.

12 designates a bed hav- The summit 1927. Serial N0. 202,944.

opening 24 in the bottom of the bed, and in the box bottom 14*.

The game may be played by several players, each holding the device withits bottom horizontal and pressing a finger upward against the usb pieceuntil the balls 16 are raised sufliciently to roll outward over the edgeof the recess, andthen downward on The value-indicating numbers 19 ofthe pockets in which balls are caused to lodge by each player, areadded, the sum being the players score.

The bed may by an inverted box lines in Figure 2.

The balls may be adapted to shine in the 1 the protuberance.

be covered when not in use,

dark. For example, they may be hollowand of glass, and contain luminousmaterial or composition, such as is used to render Watch hands and dialfigures luminous.

Figure 3 shows a. push member composed of a bell-crank lever .27fulcrumed at 28 in a relatively large cavity 29 in the bottom of thebed. One arm of this lever is loosely connected with the .stem 21, andthe other arm is loosely connected with a horizontal push rod 30,extending through an end of the bed, the arrangement being such that theplunger 17 may be raised by an inward push on the rod30, so that thedevice may be operated while resting on a horizontal support.

Figure 3 also shows, somewhat conventionally, an embodiment of means inwhich the bell-crank lever 27 is included, for illuminating the craterwhen the plunger 17 is raised. An incandescent lamp 31 is mounted on abracket 32, fixed to the bottom 14: and is located in the cavity 29, inposition to project its light upwardly into the recess 15, the latterbeing connectedwith the cavity 29 by a large opening 33. 3 1 designatesa flash-light battery included in a normally open electric circuit,which includes the lamp and a spring contact 35, carried by thebell-crank lever 27. The contact 35 is separated from the battery whenthe lever is in its normal position, the plunger 17 being lowered. Whenthe lever 27 is moved to raise the plunger, the contact '35 closes the26, as indicated by dotted.

woven Wire, or perforated sheet metal, or of transparent or translucentmaterial, such as celluloid or glass, which may be colored to color theprojected light.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising a bed having a diversified surface includinga protuberance simulating a volcanic mountain, an upstanding curbsurrounding the bed, the summit of the protuberance being provided withan upwardly opening recess sur rounded by a wall which simulates acrater, aplural-ity of loose balls adapted to be assembled in therecess, and a ball-supporting plunger formed to support said ballswithin the recess, and movable vertically therein to cause the balls toroll outwardly over the recess wall and upon the protuberance, the :bedbeing provided with numbered ball-rewceivingpockets in which rollingballs may lodge.

2. A game device as specified byclaim 1,

the plunger being provided with a stem extending downwardly into acavity in the bed,

the device comprising also a push member located in said'cavity andconnected with the stem, the push member being manually movable to raisethe plunger.

3. A game device as specified by claim 1,

the plunger being provided with a stem extending downwardly into acavity in the bed, the device comprising also a bell-crank leverfulcrumed in said cavity and connected with the stem, said leverconstituting a olun 'er-raisin ush member and a ush rod extendinghorizontally through an end "of the bed and connected with the lever.

4:. A game device as specified by claim 1,

comprising also an electric lamp located in signature. I n. 1 l

- ERNEST'W. GATES.

